Comfort Food Contest

We asked: What's Your Favorite Comfort Food and Why?

Thank you for your interest in our Comfort Food Contest. The contest is officially closed and we are no longer accepting entries. FYI, as a group, Mac 'n Cheese and Mashed Potatoes were the clear overall favorite comfort foods.

High quality Hamburgers! My mom made the best homemade hamburgers growing up, and now when ever I need some comfort food I find that a delicious hamburger hits the spot. There is something about the combination of bread, meat, tomato, lettuce, and onion all in one that tastes great. And it doesn't hurt that I really like to eat with my hands!

Here are some other notable entries (including some delicious sounding recipes).

Boerenkool met worsf (kale, potatoes & sausage) this is a perfect colld weather meal and so easy to make. 5-6 Yukon gold potatoes bunch of kale chopped with the stalls removed 1 kielbasa clean and dice the potatoes and place them in a pan with water. put the chopped kale on top of the potatoes and top that with the kielbasa. bring to a boil and cook for about 20 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. take out the kielbasa (carefully add it is hot) and put it on a plate. drain the kale & potatoes, reserving some of the cooking water. nah the kale and potatoes together, adding water if needed. cut the kielbasa into pieces and place on top of the mashed vegetables. yum! -

My moms German Chocolate Cake. Growing up, I looked forward to my birthday and the smell of that cake baking in the oven. When my husband and I started dating and we realized our Moms used the exact same recipe we knew it was a match made in heaven.

Bottle of dry red wine and a bag of layes potato chips

My favorite comfort food is, diet coke and Chocolate Chip cookies!

Rice pudding--When my Dad became ill, I had a craving for cooked rice pudding--something I never ate very often. That started a trend--whenever something serious happened in my life-- I got the craving for rice pudding and it continues today. I have packaged store bought rice pudding in my fridge at this time.

Our favorite comfort food is Dutch Babies. I have so many memories of sitting in my Grammy's kitchen waiting for the pan to come out of the oven. If the wind was screaming, she'd joke it was howling for a bite. With just a few ingredients, she'd bring the entire family together: 3 eggs, room temperature 1/2 cup milk, room temperature 1/2 cup sifted bread flour or all-purpose flour 1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon 6 teaspoons butter, unsalted or salted Freshly squeezed lemon juice Powdered or confectioners sugar First, preheat oven to 450 degrees F. NOTE: It is very important that you preheat your oven. Place oven rack on the middle rack of your oven. Place a large, heavy, shallow ovenproof frying pan or a cast-iron skillet in the oven until hot and sizzling. While pan is heating, mix up the batter by beating the eggs until frothy; add milk, flour, vanilla extract, and cinnamon; beat for 5 minutes more. The batter will be thin, but very smooth and creamy. It will smell like happiness. Using a pot holder, remove the hot skillet from the oven; add the butter; tilting the pan to melt the butter and coat the skillet. Now, pour the prepared batter into the hot skillet, all at once, and immediately return the skillet to the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes. It will puff around the edges and sometimes a bit in the center. Take it out and serve immediately. It'll start to deflate quickly. We would cut it into wedges and sprinkle powdered sugar and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Truly, a comfort!

My favorite comfort food is Dim Sum. I love the creativity, variety, delicious combinations and skilled presentation of this food. Served with fragrant tea and good company, there is nothing quite like it.

Sitting cross-legged on the down comforter that covered my double bed through college, I nestled into memories that billowed up with the steam from the macaroni and cheese I had just microwaved. I thought of my Granny at once, let the safe, familiar warmth of the bowl cupped in my hands take me back home. Unlike the bowl in my hands, the bowl in my memory was full of hot vegetable-beef soup that I stirred with the dark brown crusted edges of fresh cornbread. Nothing else hushes and rocks away the daily paper cuts of being a grown up like sitting still for a few moments with the heat of the potatoes and peas and tomatoes waking my hands to the days of my childhood, legs folded on the brick floor of Granny's kitchen with her love warming me up from the inside.

Ah -- breakfast for dinner is the most comforting food ever. Why? Because it's a meal to be eaten in pajamas, and there's nothing more comforting than that. Scrambled eggs and wheat toast, home fries, a slice of bacon, a big glass of OJ, or maybe a glass of milk. Oh, and banana pancakes for dessert -- just like that Jack Johnson song. mmmmm..... yawn.... can there be a more comforting dinner? I can't imagine it. Enjoy!

Hot butter sauce. In medium size sauce pan combine (1/2cup) butter ~ 1 cup sugar~ 3/4 cup heavy cream. Cook over medium heat stirring frequently until hot and smooth. This sauce is wonderful on cranberry cake or bread pudding or pancakes. It really works so well on so many things~ I always make cranberry cake with fresh cranberries and hot butter sauce in the winter months. It is so soul soothing and delicious with a cup of fresh brewed coffee or tea.

Thanks for all your wonderful entries and bon appetit!

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